TheCable

Abubakar Bello, governor of Niger, has advised the federal government to collaborate with neighbouring states to improve security.

He stated this on Monday when he visited a team of combined security operatives in Kagara, Rafi LGA of the state.

The governor’s comments come amid efforts to rescue children kidnapped from Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school in Tegina area.

According to a statement by Mary Noel-Berje, his spokesperson, the Niger governor “enjoined the federal government to intensify efforts at ensuring that adequate measures are evolved in collaborating with her neigbouring countries, noting that from all indications, the bandits are foreigners”.

Also, speaking after a visit to the parents of the victims, Bello commended the security agencies, and also commiserated with the vigilantes in the state over the death of some of their members, while assuring them of the government’s support for their welfare.

“We are all very sad that it has gotten to a point where we are no longer allowed to live our normal lives by bandits. We have to try our best not to make them succeed in forcing us to change our way of life,” he said.

“They started by displacing farmers, next they moved to burning farms, next to kidnapping children and forcing us to close schools, and only God knows what next. We cannot afford to allow that happen anymore.

“I pleaded with the parents to be patient. The government is trying its best. None of us here can feel the pain of the parents. We can only think. I know they are in pain. They haven’t seen their kids for three weeks. But we’re being very cautious in terms of our operations, so we don’t lose innocent lives.

“Of course, you know it isn’t our policy to pay ransom, but the abductors have been in contact with the parents association. The parents have offered them what they can, obviously because they want to get their kids back as soon as possible. But it appears the abductors are not honest. After agreeing with the parents, they started moving the goal post. This is the third week, and we’re here to take a decision.”